Grease-dispensing apparatus



Jan. 19, 1926.

J. BALDNER GREASE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIMMILIM INVENTOR Jan. 19 ,1926; i ,570,032

J. BALDN ER GREASE DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed. June 7, 1921 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

- .mcon :eALnnEa;

OF XENIA, OHIO.

GREASE-DISPENSING APPAR ATUS.

Application filed June 7,

To all 'whomc't may concern:

.Be it known that I, JACOB BALDNER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Xenia, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grease-Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a} specification. v

My invention relates to dispensing apparatus for plastic and semi-fluid materials, and more particularly to measuring means therefor by which the discharge is regulated in measured quantity.

The present application is a continuation in part of my pending application. for Letters Patent Serial No. 453,978, filed March 21, 1921.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such apparatus, whereby it will not only The cheapened in construction,

but will be more .efiicient in,use, positive in operation, uniform in action, accurate and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus with a governor or control device which will insure the uniform and continuous discharge of the material in measured quantities.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic control means for the apparatus, by which the discharge mechamsm will be automatically. arrested when a predeterminedquantity of the material has been ejected.

'Afurther object of the invention is to provide means for readily adjusting the apparatus to discharge the material in greater or less measured quantity, and to further provide for automatic coin control or finger control for setting the mechanism in opera tion.

A 'further object of the invention is to provide. in 'con'unction with the dispensing apparatus, a aster or auxiliary ejector or pump to insure uniform and continuous discharge.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as'will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the

parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth'in the claims. 'Referring to the drawings, wherein is 1921. Serial No. 475,637.

shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an assembled dispensing apparatus wherein is embodied the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the tank or container and driving motor re moved. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section of the auxiliary ejecting and measuring mechanism and the indicator or controller therefor. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the auxiliary ejector or measuring device. Fig. 5 isa detail perspective view of one of the blades or vanes of the rotary ejector. Fig. 6 is a top plan .view of the adjustable controller, governing the discharge of multiple units of measurements of the material. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the governor or controller with the multiple feature removed, necessitating a separate manual closing of the electric circuit to the motor, either by the deposit of a coin or the closing of a switch for each measured unit of material discharged. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of a coin controlled switch, and a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit controlling the automatic motor operation of the ap aratus. Fig. 9 is a detall of the coin slide Ear.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference thruout the several views. I

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the container or reservoir for the material to be discharged in measured quantity, which container rests upon a base 2, within which is contained the dispensing or ejecting apparatus. This base or housing 2 is provided with an inlet opening or, pocket 4 with which the open bottom of the container 1 registers. The bottom of the housing'2 comprises a plurality of parallel semicircular grooves or recesses 5, which communicates with concentric bores or circular passages 6 in the base or housing 9., and extending beyond the receiving opening 4. Lo-

cated in each of the semi-circular grooves 5 and extending thence into the corresponding bore or passage, is a revoluble spiral conveyor 7. There may be any number of these spiral conveyors in the series. In the drawing, but four have been shown. It is obvious, however, that more or less may be employed. These conveyors 7 extend sufficient distance thru the passages or bores 6'* to afford ample bearing therein for the conveyor screws, while at the opposite end these conveyor screws 7 are provided with trunnions or drive shafts, having bearings in the terminal wall of the receiving recess 4, thru which they extend into the adjacent pocket or chamber 9, where they carry intermeshing gear pinions 10.

As shown in the drawings, the succeeding conveyors are reversed and are rotated in reverse direction by the intermeshing gear pinions 10 thereby serving to simultaneously advance the plastic or semi-fluid material uniformly in the same direction.

The trunnion shaft of one of the conveyor screws is extended beyond the housing of base 2 as indicated at 11, to afford a drive connection for the series of conveyor screws 7. The conveyor screws 7 may be manually operated by means of a hand crank, or may be motor driven, the latter being the preferred mode of operation. In Fig. l of the drawing, the shaft extension 11 is shown provided with a beveled gear pinion 12, with which meshes a second pinion 13 upon a vertically disposed drive shaft 14. Carried by the shaft 14 is a worm wheel 15, with which meshes a worm upon the armature shaft of a driving motor 17. It will be obvious that upon operation of the driving motor the spiral conveyors 7 will be simultaneously actuated to discharge grease or other plastic or semi-fluid material from the container 1, thru the lateral bores 6 into the pressure chamber 18, formed at one end of the base or housing 2. The bores or passages 6 all communicate with this pressure chamber and simultaneously discharge thereinto.

At its upper end the drive shaft 14 carries a bevel gear 19, meshing with a similar gear upon a transverse shaft 20 to which may be connected a hand crank 21, for hand operation of the apparatus. In the event that either the hand crank or motor are to be utilized as actuating means, the worm wheel 15 will be connected to the shaft by a pawl and ratchetconnection. The mechanism thus far described is substantially that disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application aforementioned.

Leading from the pressure chamber 18 of the base or housing 2 is a discharge conduit 23. Located in this discharge conduit 23 is a rotary power driven meter 24, comprising the cylindrical housing 25, having inlet and outlet passages 26 and 27 respectively. Mounted eccentrically within the circular housing 25 is a rotor 28 having therein two oppositely disposed overlapping sliding blades or vanes 29. These vanes are bifurcated on their inner edges to receive a spring 30 by which the blades or vanes are forced apart and against the wall of the housing 25 as the rotor 28 revolves. During the rotation of the rotor the blades or vanes reciprocate to and fro therethru, maintaining at all times their bearing contact upon the interior walls of the cylinder under the influence of the spring 30. The grease or other plastic or semi-fluid material enters 18 and supplied thence to the rotary meter under a relatively high pressure. The excess material advanced by the spiral conveyors 7 merely leaks back or when the passages or bores 6 are filled to the maximum pressure, no more material can be forced thereinto by the spiral conveyors, since the material will merely push upwardly within the container 1. The capacity of the spiral conveyors being so much greater than that of the rotary meter, insures at all times an ample supply of material under pressure at the inlet port of the rotary meter. This supply under pressure in turn insures the intake chamber of the meter being fully and completely filled at a uniform pressure at each rotation of the rotor 28. This intake chamber being of a definite capacity receives a predetermined charge at each half rotation of the rotor 28, and serves as a unit of measurement. The rotary meter so designed that a predetermined number of rotations orpredeterminednumber of charges shall equal exactly one pound or if units of liquid measure are desired, it is designed that a predetermined number of such charges shall equal one pint or one quart of the material. Upon the rotation of the blades or vanes, the charge of material received upon the cylinder 25 is discharged upwardly thru the outlet passage 27 and the discharge conduit 23. The rotor 28 is positively driven by means of a bevel gear 31 upon the shaft of the rotor, meshing with a similar gear 32 upon a vertically disposed stem or shaft 33, mounted in a suitable bearing in the top wall of the pressure chamber 18. At its lower end, the vertical'shaft 33 carries a gear pinion 34 meshing with a similar pinion 35 upon a stem or stub shaft carried by one of the spiral conveyors 7. Thus the rotary meter is positively driven in unison with the actuation of the spiral conveyors 7.

In order to indicate the quantity of material discharged, the shaft 36 of the rotor 28 is extended laterally as shown in Fig. 3, and carries a worm (not shown) meshing with the worm gear 37. This worm gear 37 is suitably mounted upon a standard or post 38, in this instance mounted upon the top of the pressure chamber .8. The hub 39 of the worm gear carries the rotating arm 40, which plays over a circ'1 lar disc, which may be graduated in units of measurement as pounds, or pints and quarts as desired and in accordance with the capacity ofthe rotary meter. Thus by watching the travel of the arm 40, the op erator may know how much material has been discharged. For convenience in resetting the arm 40, to a predetermined starting point, this arm is provided with a hub 41, having a series of inclined ratchet teeth or clutch teeth 42 engaging with corresponding teeth on the upper end of the worm gear hub 39. The clutch teeth of the hubs 39 and 41 are maintained in operative engagement one with. the other, by means of a spring 43, surrounding an" extension or stem 43 carried by the trunnion stud or shaft upon which the members rotate.

In lieu of using the traveling arm 40 and the head or disc over which be utilized as an automatic governor or controller, by which the apparatus is arrested when a predetermined quantity of material has been discharged. To this end the device is utilized as a traveling switch or commutator in the motor circuit, the current being conducted thru the traveling arm and the contact ring over which it travels, in which is inserted at spaced intervals, inserts of insulating material upon engagement of which the circuit is broken. When so utilized as a governor ,or controller, this mechanism comprises a base plate or head 44 of insulating material, on which is mounted the contact ring 45. The traveling arm 40 bears upon and has wiping contact with the contact ring 45, thruout its full circle of travel. Located at spaced intervals. in the contact ring are inserts 46 of fibre or other insulating material. These inserts are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the travel of the" arm 40, during the discharge of one unit of measurement of the material, whether the same be a pound or a pint, or other quantity. That is to say, by starting the motor, when the contact arm 40 is upon one of these insulating inserts, the a paratus is designed to discharge one unit 0 material either a pound, a pint or some greater quantity, while the arm 40 is traveling to the next succeeding insert. In

the drawings, but four inserts have been shown located in piosition ninety degrees from each other. T is may be varied, however, according to the capacity of the meter.

A typical control circuit is'showir in Fig. 8, whereinvthe actuating motor 17 is shown directly connected with the control device it travels,- -merely as an indicator, these devices may by the traveling arm or governor by means of the shaft 36, so that the traveling arm 40 rotates in unison with the operation of the motor. One side of the motor is shown as being grounded, the ground being upon the frame of the apparatus. In this diagram the traveling arm 40 is also shown as grounded'upon the frame of theapparatus, while the opposite side of the motor and the contact rings 45 are interconnected thru battery 48, or other suitable source of electric energy. There is also shown in the diagram, a switch 49, one side of which is likewise grounded upon the frame of the apparatus, the other side of which is connected with the battery 48. Assuming that the traveling arm 40 is at rest upon one of the insulating inserts 46, where it will come to rest at the vend of each succeeding operation, the momentary closing of the switch 49 will close a circuit from ground upon the frame, thru battery 48 hence thru the motor 17, to thev opposite side of the motor, which is likewise grounded upon the f-rame completing the motor circuit. This sets the motor in operation and drives the traveling arm 40 causing it to move off of the insert into contact with the ring 45,-whereupon after the release of the switch 49, current will be supplied ring 45, thence thru the arm 40 engaged therewith to ground upon the frame and thence to the opposite side of the motor, which is likewise grounded and thru the motor back to the battery. The current will continue to flow to this course, actuating the motor to drive the dispensing and measuring apparatus, and simultaneously actuating the traveling. arm 40 until said arm reaches the next succeeding insulating insert 46, whereupon the circuit will be brofrom the battery to the contact.-

ken and the motor arrested. The switch 49 may be manually operated and may com-' prise merely a push button or similar device for starting the motor. In I lieu of manually operating the switch 49 to start the motor, there is shown in Fig. 8 coin controlled means by which the switch is closed upon the insertion of a coin of proper size for instance, a twenty-five cent piece. The construction shown in Fig. 8 is extremely simple, only. It comprises a housing 50 which may be located at any cbnvenient' point either on the apparatus or at some distant point. In the bottom of the housing 50 is a money drawer or ill 51, while in the side of the housing is mounted a reciprocatory slide bar 52, having therein a slot 53 to receive the coin. This slide barrests upon a ledge or shelf 54, which forms a bottom for the slot 53, until the bar reaches its innermost and is for illustrative purposes ring in different upon the circuit box or till 51. However, in its inward movement'upon the reciprocation of the bar 52, the coin engages the switch arm 49 and elevates such arm against the tension of the spring 55, to close the motor circuit and start the apparatus in operation.

As thus far described, it is necessary to close the circuit for ,each measured unit, of. material whether .the same be a pound or a pint. That is to say, when the apparatus is started it will continue to operate until the traveling ceedmg insulating mechanism Wlll be arm 40engages the sucarrested. In Fig. 6 there is shown additional means whereby the arm may be caused to travel different distances according to the number of measured units of material to bedischarged. That is to say, adjustment is provided whereby the arm may be 'made to continuously advance during the discharge of one, two, three or more units. To this end there ,is mounted inside the contract ring 45 a second ring or disc 56, freely rotatable within the ring 45, by means of a short handle or stem 57, projecting laterally therefrom thru a suitable spot in the primary contact ring 45. A spring detent comprising a spring clasp ball 58, contained in a tubular housing 59 is en gageable in any one of a series of depressions or socket in the periphery of the inner or adjustable contact ring 56 to maintain the positions of adjustment. This inner or secondary contact ring extends flush with the contact surface of the primary ring 45, and is engaged simultaneous with the ring 45 by the traveling arm 40. The adjustable or secondary contact ring has therein either opennotches 60 or insulating inserts in such notches. These notches or insulating inserts 60 are differently spaced from those of the primary contact ring 45, andare so situated that upon the oscillatory movement of the inner or secondary contact ring, these notches or insulating inserts 60 are moved into and out of registry with the insert 46 of the primary rin Thus the secondary or inner-ring serves to bridge the insulating insert of the primary ring and serves to conduct the current while the traveling arm passes over the insert 46. The traveling arm 40 will continue to rotate until it encounters two insulating spaces 46 and 60 in registry one with the other, wherewill be broken. Thus if only one unit of the commodity is to be discharged, the inner or secondary ring is adjusted to bring one of the insulating spaces 60 into registry with the first insert 46, whereas if two such units are to be ejected, the. ring is adjusted a further step to bring an insulating space 60 into registry with the second insert 46 of the series, thereby bridging the first insert 46 by moving the insulating space 60 out of registry therewith, so that insert .46 whereupon the the arm 40 will make contact with the secondary ring 56, while traversing the insert 46. Thus the apparatus may be adjusted to automatically dispense any number of measured units of the commodity within the capacity of the governor or controller.

This governor or controller may be located at any convenient place upon the apparatus. In Figs. 2 and 3 it has been shown directly connected with the rotary pump and supported upon the extension or pressure chamber of the base or housing 2.' In Fig. 1 the governmor controller is shown mounted upon the top of the structure and actuated from the transverse shaft 20 which receives motion from the drive shaft 14.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character. described, a reservoir, a plurality of spiral conveyors communicating therewith, a chamber into which the conveyors discharge, an outlet conduit leading from the chamber, a rotary valve member in said conduit driven in unison with the conveyors but of less capacity than the series of conveyors whereby back pressure will be created at the intake side of said. rotary valve, the flow of material under such pressure being resisted by said valve member, and separated thereby intosuccessive measured charges of uniform size, the quantity of material discharged being determined by the operations of said valve member.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with asupply' reservoir of two separate e ector inechamsms communicating therewith and inter connected in series whereby one ejector supplies the other, the initial ejector being of greater. capacity than the second ejector, the second ejector acting to impede the charging the material, at lower pressure,

.and means to operate said ejectors in unison, the quantity of discharge being measured at the full capacity of the second ejector. p I

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a reservoir, an ejector communicating therewith dividing the discharged material into successive charges of known capacity and conveyor means for supplying the material to the ejector inquantity greater than its capacity whereby said ejector will act to impede the normal flow of the material under influence of the first ejector and will be operated at full capacity to discharge the material in known measured quantity.

4. In an apparatus of-the aracter described, a reservoir, an' auxiliary pressure chamber communicating therewith, means for discharging the contents of the reservoir, into said chamber under pressure, a discharge conduit and an intermediate measuring chamber of known capacity communicating alternately with the pressure chamber, and with the discharge conduit for discharging the material from said pressure chamber in measured quantity.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a reservoir, a plurality of spiral v.conveyors communicating therewith to simultaneously discharge the contents of the reservoir, a chamber common to all the spiral conveyors into which each conveyor discharges the conveyed material under pressure, and a flow regulator resisting the pressure of the accumulation of material in said chamber, and operating to sever the outflow therefrom into a succession of measured charges of uniform bulk;

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a reservoir, a pressure chamber. communicating therewith, means for discharging the contents of the reservoir into said chamber under pressure, and a rotary valve of known capacity communicating with said pressure. chamber, comprising a circular housing, an eccentrically mounted rotor therein, and reciprocatory blades mounted in said rotor maintaining contact with the walls of the housing serving to sever the discharged material into a succession of measured charges, the discharge capacity of the valve being less than the receiving capacity of the pressure chamber, whereby the contents or the chamber will be, maintained under pressure and valve supplied at full capacity to discharge the contents of the reservoir in measured quantity.

7 A dispensing apparatus for lubricant or the like, wherein an electric motoris utilized for actuating "an ejector of known capacity to discharge the commodity operated upon from a supply reservoir, characterized by' an automatic controller switch comprising a rotating arm actuated by the motor, a contact ring over which the arm travels, said armand ring being included in the motor circuit, and spaced non-conducting areas in said contact ring engaged by the arm to open the motor circuit when the ejector has been operated suflicient to discharge a predetermined known quantity of material.

8. A dispensing apparatus for lubricant or the like, wherein an electric motor is utilized for actuating an ejector of known capacity to discharge the commodity operated upon from. a supply reservoir, characterized by a controller switch for the motor comprising two relatively movable contact members actuated by said motor thru which the motor current is supplied, one of said members being adapted to break contact at predetermined points in their path of travel whereby the motor will be arrested when the ejector has been operated sufiiciently to discharge a predetermined quantity of material.

9. A dispensing apparatus for lubricant or the like wherein an electric motor is utilized for actuating an ejector of known capacity to discharge the commodity operated upon from a. supply reservoir, characterized by an electric driving motor, a controller switch for the motor comprising two relatively movable contact members actuated by said motor thru which the motor current is supplied, said members being adapted to break contact at predetermined points in their path of travel whereby the motor will be arrested when the ejec- I tor has been operated sufliciently to discharge a predetermined quantity of mautilized for actuating an' ejector of known capacity to discharge the commodity 0perated upon from a supply reservoir, characterized by a controller switch for the motor comprising two relatively movable contact members actuated by said motor thru which the motor current is supplied, said members being adapted to break the contact at predetermined points in their path of travel whereby the motor will be arrested when the ejector has been operated sufiiciently to discharge a predetermined quantity of material, a shunt circuit connecting."

said relatively movable contact members, a?"

coin controlled circuit closer in said shunt.

circuit by the closing of'which the motor" is set in operation for a succeeding period of ejector discharge.

11. A dispensing apparatus for lubricant or the like, wherein an electric motor is utilized for actuating an ejector of known apacity to discharge the commodity operated upon from a supply reservoir, characterized by a controller switch for the motor comprising two relatively movable contact members actuated by the motor, one of said members comprising relatively movable sections simultaneously engaged by the other contact member, each section having therein nonconducting areas at spaced intervals, the spacing of such areas of one section being different from that of the other, the non-conducting areas being brought into registry successively by the relative adjustment of said sections, the non-registering areas of each section being bridged by the other section to afford a continuous contact for the other contact member until it engages the registered noncondueting areas to arrest the motor after having driven the ejector sufliciently to discharge a predetermined quantity of material.

12. In an apparatus for dispensing plastic material in measured quantity, the com bination with a reservoir of a plurality of spiral conveyors communicating therewith, a compression chamber into which the conveyors discharge under pressure, a discharge conduit leading from the chamber having a capacity less than that of the conveyors whereby a body of material under pressure will be accumulated within said chamber, and a flow regulating device rcsisting the pressure of the accumulation of material within the chamber and permitting 'ltLS escape only in measured quantity, and

means for actuating the flow regulating device in unison with the actuation of the conveyors.

13. In an apparatus for dispensing plastic material in measured quantity, the combinas tion with a reservoir and an ejector means therefor, advancing the material under pressure, of a discharge conduit and a flow regulating device controlling the discharge outlet normally resisting the advance of material under influence ol' the ejector and permitting the escape thereof in measured quantity, and means for actuating the regulater in accordance wit-h the quantity of material advanced by the ejector means.

14. In an apparatus for dispensing lubricant or the like, the combination with a supply reservoir, ejector means, a pressure chamber in which a quantity of the material is accumulated under pressure, a discharge conduit leading therefrom, and a rotary measuring valve controlling the outflow from said chamber through said eonduit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24 day of May, A. D. 1921.

JACOB BALDNER. 

